New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-03
WHAT CA USED THE SILVER STRIKE
THE BOARD OF ARBITRATION AT WORK

BOSSES BOUND TO BREAK DOWN THE KNIGHTS
TESTIMONY FROM BOTH SIDES.
Tho State Board of Arbitration with Chairman
William Purcell presiding, met yesterday at ~ H. m
in the NewYork Hotel to investigate the causes OF tne
recent strike in the Whiting Manufacturing Com
pany's shop and the subsequent lockout OF silver
workers all over the city. The manufacturers
were represented by Mr.. Clarke as counsel and the
worbmen by Mr. Langbcin.
John Fearns siver-chaser, who was employed
by the Whiting Company and went on strike, told
the story of the strike substantialyas 1t has been pub
lshed There was no question OF wages or treat
ment The struck simply because there were
too many apprentices employed. SupcriDtcnde no
Osborn told the men that they were acting wrong
in interfering with the firms business. Repeated
conferences had been held but they had resulted In
nothing and the strike was still on. At one OF the
meetings President Bulkley had told the committee
that combination had been formed by the manu-
lacturors to discharge all the Knights OF Labor,
and while he at first was inclined not to go into the
combination he at last told them that he had decided
to do so.
william Carpenter. pollsher, testified that he had
applied for work at the Whiting COmpanys shop
since tho lockout He had been offered &19 week
and was told of the lockout He then had said that
ho was Knight of Labor and couldn't work If thero
was q lockout The foreman said that if he was a
knight of Labor he couldn't go to work anyway.
William Kitdemeyer, who was employed by the
chasers those who stayed in had tried 70 settle tho
strike He had boon told by Mr. CowSr, ut ",
COMPANY, that the manufacturers had an association,
and unless the strike settled mt there would
be q lockout of all Knights The same day the lock
out notice was posted.
Adolf Brumm, one Of the strikers, said he had got
work with Samuel Rowan, Of No IA Rvingt0n-st,
who did work contract for Theodore b. starr
lie discharged the second day, Mr.. Rowan
telling him that he had been threatened with a
II. d. Domi1ick Of Domlnlck & II n, took the
stand. He denounced labor organizations and said
that he had made up his mind TO have nothing to do
With them. He was always willing to liston TO his
mon. Up TO two years ago his men had worked
cxcclentiy and thcro had been no trouble with them
Then thcrc had been change. Work that had taken
twenty-five hours would not be finished In thirty six
hours and committees were constantly coming to
him with ridiculous demands. Thore was no formal
combination. but simply an informal association Of
manufacturers who wished TO decide how best TO
resist tho demands Of organized labor. f. C. Moore:
of tiffany q Co, was president. AMI L. g. Han, OF
Domnict & HaH was secrotay Tho association
Ind membcrS all over tho Eastern states He had
tried TO induce others to into tho association,
nnd "wished that every manufacturer in America
would do his lttlo all 70 break down the knights OF
labor. It would bo better for the workingmcn.
Tho organization will not permit a man to do fair
days work" -
Charles H. Bulklev Of the whiting Company. told
the story OF the strike and lockout substantially as
told by the men, and cosed by saving that the
Knirhts OF IAhor made his men worse worsmcn.'
Tho investigation viii go on this morning